Self-sharpening safety razor



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SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY' RAzoR Patented July 11, 1944 lOFFICE sELF-SHAiiPENING SAFETYRAzonv James B. Brockhurstjlted BanlxQ.' 7.1i Application May 19, 194.2,I'Scrial No.l443,555

15 Claims. (01.5 30%36) y and advantageous self-sharpening safety razor in which the edges of the blade are guard-ed at all times during the sharpening operation. An-

other object of the invention is to provide a new and advantageous self-sharpening safety razor Vin which the blade is directly and accurately centered in the razor preparatory to use. `Another object of the invention is to provide a new and advantageous form of safety razor in which a `cap carrying sharpeningv material can easily be removed, thus facilitating blade-changing and changing of caps in which a cap carrying sharpening material of a certain degree of neness may readily be replaced by a cap provided with sharp- *y en ing material of a differentA degree of neness. A further object is to provide a razor blade open at its interior to receive therethrough members for holding in xed relation razor parts at oppo site sides of the blade while permitting transverse movement of the blade with reference to said parts to an extent determined by engagement .of said members by opposite interior abutting edges of said blade.

Other Objects features andadvantages mmap-.35 plate lil-'and a. capA n which nts Abetween the pear upon consideration of the following detailed description and of, the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an illustrated form lof the invention taken along the plane through the axis ofthe razor and centrally positioned @4K0 with respect to the razor head; Y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view looking at one end of the razor head;

Fig. 3 is a section of the vhead position taken along a plane perpendicular to that of Fig. 1, 45

showing the vblade shifted to one side;

Q Fig. 4 is a section taken along a plate perp-endicular to that of Fig. 3, the partsbeing positioned to shift theblade;

Fig. 5 is a plan view .of the concave under .15.0

surface of the cap;

Fig. 671s atop plan view of the main or xed plate of the head;

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line I-l of Fig. l; Y

fao

I Fig. s is a section taken along the une -s of Fig. 2`; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a head member orplate I9 iixed on the upper end of a tubular member tube I I which forms part of la handle I2. At the lower side of said head plate I9 is a member or plate I3 movable transversely of head plate II] and whichmay serve both as an actuating plate or member for a blade I4 and also as a guard for the edges of the blade. As shown, for example, in Figs. l, 2, and 3, the guard plate or guard` I3 extends somewhat beyond the edges of the blade I4 andthe edges ofthe guard plate are turned back in a manner somewhat similar to that of the usual guards. v

The blade-actuating plate or guard may be slidably mounted on the xed head plate Ill and to this end thev ends of the plate II] may be beveled downwardly and outwardly and may t into corresponding recesses or grooves I5 in upright arms I5 preferably integral-with the guard and 5 'extending upwardly from the central parts of the ends, thus providing one form of tongue Iand groove sliding connection. These arms engage in vcentrally positioned recesses or notches I Sa in the `ends of the'blade Ill` yto center the blade on the guard I3, and vpreferablyiare tapered in width to assure engagement with'bothends of each of said Obviously theblade ends might be extended and the recesses I6a closed to form slots.

The blade I4 is positionedbetween the head to rest on countersunk seats 23in head' plate II).

Also th-e stem I8 is provided with a beveled seat 21 adapted to. rest on a countersunk seat 28, in the vtop of tube Il. As indicated in Fig. 9, the length of the sharpening strokes of the bladeis determined by engagement of the stem I8 and studs I9 with abuttingedgesf 28a. at the ends of the slots 20 in the blade I4.-

The cap I'Iis connected tothe-handle' I2 by means of a screw connectionbetween the stem v'Ill and -a rotatable spindle or rod 29 extending face.

through the tube II of the handle and provided at its outer end with a head or iinger piece engaging the outer end of the tube II. As illustrated, the stem I8 is threaded into the enlarged end of the spindle 29, which enlarged end is held in position longitudinally of the handle I2, between a shoulder 3| formed by an increase in the internal diameter of the tube I8 and a tube 32 pressed into tube I I, said spindle 29 being rotatable in tube 32. In this connection it may be stated that the studs I9 are long enough as compared with other parts, so that when the cap I1 is placed over the blade, the studs I9 will pass through the openings 2I in the head plate before the screw connections between stem I8 and the versely and when the cap is drawn toward the head III by turning the finger-piece head 30, the

blade is iiexed due to pressure by the edges of the cap I1, over the downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces at the longitudinal edges of said head member III. In this flexing the central part of the blade will be raised and the ends of recesses I6a will be brought closer together and kept in engagement with the edges of tapered arms I6.

In order to effect a. sharpening action, the cap I 1 may have sharpening material 33 at its lower As illustrated, the sharpening material is in the form of a sheet or plate covering the entire lower surface of the cap. However, the sharpening material may be used only at the edges of the cap, or the whole cap may be made of sharpening material.

In addition to openings 34 through which studs I9 pass, the blade-actuating plate or guard I3 may be provided with a circular opening 35 through which passes the tube I I containing the stem I8 of the cap I1, the diameter of the opening being sufficient to permit movement of the guard through a distance corresponding to the desired lateral movement of the blade I4, For cooperation with another part to `lock plate I3 against lost motion, as will be described more fully hereinafter, circular opening 35 is tapered so as to have its greatest diameter at the lower face of plate I3. Just outside of the circular opening toward one end of the plate I3 is a nger 36 which extends downwardly and then inwardly toward the tube I I, and may serve both for guard-actuating and for guard centering.

' The actuation, centering, and locking of the guard I3 against lost motion may be controlled by a finger piece 31 slidable on the tube II and having at its bottom a sleeve 38 slidable on an external finishing sleeve 39 fixed on tube II of the handle and with one end in engagement with the head 30 on the spindle 29 which effects tightening or loosening of the cap I1. Preferably sleeve 39 is formed of ornamental plastic material.

Inside the sleeve 38 is a spring 4I) interposed between the sleeve 39 and the body of the finger piece 36, to urge the finger piece toward the guard I3 and hold the guard against lost motion by pressing a tapered or conical outer surface on the upper part of the finger piece into effective locking engagement with the tapered surface around the circular opening 35 in the guard I3. The upper part of the finger piece 31 which has the tapered outer surface may be in the form of an upwardly projecting circular fiange 4I having in its top a centering notch 42 to cooperate with finger 36 in centering the guard before the flange is seated in the circular opening 35 to lock the guard against lost motion, and also an operating notch 42 which may be brought into a position to receive the linger and enable the finger piece 31 to shift the guard. Of course the centering notch is deep enough so that the finger 36 will not interfere with the seating of the flange in the circular opening and the operating notch is so shallow as to prevent such seating. Furthermore the operating notch increases in width from the outer to the inner'surface of the flange to avoid cramping of the partswhile maintaining a close connection therebetween. The bottom of the operating notch 43 serves as a Y seat 44 to engage finger 35.

The sharpening operation may be carried out by moving the finger piece 31 downwardly until the fiange 4I clears the centering notch 42 and by turning the finger piece 31 so that the finger 33 engages the top of the flange. Then when the finger piece is turned through 189, the finger 36 will snap into the operating notch 43 and .engage the seat 44 which lwill prevent the. iiange from coming into locking engagement with the guard plate. When the sharpening operation is finished, the finger piece 31 is moved down to disengage the finger 36 from the operating notch 43 and then turned until the finger snapsv into the positioning notch, or centering notch, 42 and locks the finger piece 31 in the central opening .in the guard plate I3. l

As indicated particularly in Fig. 9, the blade I4 is certain to be in proper alignment with reference to the head plate I0 and cap I1 as a result of the abutting ends of the slots 2Q being brought into engagement with the stem I8 of the cap I1 and with the studs I9. This aligning of the blade will also effect proper alignment of the guard which is closely connected. to the aligned blade.

Y It should be understood that the blade I4 will be iiat on the head plate I8 when iirst placed in the razor and will be accurately positioned by the arms IB engaging both ends of the end notches I6a. When, however, the cap I1V is drawn toward the head plate, the blade I4 will be iiexed and the central portion will be raised. The actual distance vbetween opposite ends of the end slots or notches will'thus b'e decreased, Abut the arms become correspondingly narrower so that the close fit of the arms in the notches is maintained. Although head plate I0 is illus.- trated as permanently fixed on the end of tube of the handle, it is obvious that the head plate may be removably mounted on the tube II.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and'3, the left edge por- Y tion of the blade I4 when the blade is movedgto the right, is engaged from above by the sharpening material 33 and fromv below by the head plate I0, thus acting to remove, as indicated in Fig. 2, any soap, lather, etc., which might have accumulated on the blade.

It should be understood that the blade I4. may also be operated manually without use of the finger piece 31. For example this operation may be effected by holding in the right hand the razor handle and also the finger piece 31 in retracted position to free the plate or guard I3, and by moving the blade I4 back and forth by grasping the projecting end portions of the blade or the upright arms I6 of the guard I3. Of course the finger 36 might be permitted to engage the upper edge of the iiange 4I when the fingerpiece 31 is turned from its Fig. '7 position.. Then'movefinger 36 along the top of the flange 4I.

'- It-shouldbe understood that various changes may bemade and that certain features'maybe thereof, Yconnections between saidA guard and saidV blade to actuatethe latter, means for` centering sad'guard, means foractuating said guard td actuatesaid blade, a fingerpiece on said handle adapted to render eithersaid` centering means "1' effective or'such guardactuating means effec-M` tive', land' means including Asaid handle for flex'- iri'gfand holding said blade between the cap-and the head. j j 2. 'In aself-sharpening safety razona handle,

a head plate fixed on lone' end'l of saidhandle'a blade, ac'ap having sharpening material thereon,V aV guardvk beneath said head plate and mounted for movement transversely thereof, a yblade be? tween said cap and head plate, connections lbetween said guard and said blade to actuate the latter, means' for drawing said capand head plate' together to fiex and hold the blade, `a fingerY piece rotatable and slidable on said handle and, spring-pressed toward said guard, cer'itering'v means comprising a finger projecting from said4 guard and a centering notch: in the top' ofthe finger piece to receive said'finger forcenteringj; and guard actuating means including an operatingnotch' of less depth in the `top of "said finger .l

piece to receive said finger to enable actuation of the guard by'turning the finger piece.

3. In a self-sharpening safety razor, a cap with sharpening means thereon, a handle, a head plate fixed on one end of said handle, a blade between said cap and head plate, a guard plate movable transversely of said head plate, means for forcing said cap and head plate toward each other to flex and hold the blade connections between said guard plate and to said blade 'to actuate the same, means for centering said guard, means for locking said guard to prevent lost motion, means for actuating the guard transversely, and a finger piece movable to one position `to render said actuating means effective and to another position to render first such centering means effective and then such locking means effective.

4. In a self-sharpening safety razorJ a` ca with sharpening material thereon, a handle, a head plate fixed on one end of said handleLa blade between said cap and head plate, a guard beneath said head plate and movable transversely thereof, connections between said guard and said blade to actuate the latter, means for drawing said cap and head plate toward each other. a finger piece rotatable and slidable on said handle and spring pressed toward said guard, blade operating means including a finger projecting Afrom said guard and an operating notch in the top of said finger piece to receive said finger for operating the guard from the finger piece, and lost motion preventing means effective to hold said guard positioned for shaving.

5. In a self-sharpening safety razor, a cap with sharpening material thereon, a handle, a head plate fixed on one end of said handle, a blade between said cap and head plate, a guard beneath said head plate and movable transversely thereof, connections between said guard and said bladeto actuate Vthe latter, means for drawing saidicap and head plate together'to fiex andy hold the'- bladef afinger piece rotatable and slidable on-"said'handle and; spr-ing pressed toward said guard, 'means for'- preventinglost motion including'a' taperedcircular friction seat at the interior of'a centrali circular' opening in `said guard'and a corresponding friction seat atithe exterior of the upper end of the vfinger piece, centering means comprising'anger `projectingfrom said guard adjacent said central opening 4'and a notch-n the topof the iingerpiece to receive said finger for `centeringpurposes 'and to. permit further movementtotrender effective such lost-motion- 'preventingf means,I and guard actuating;v means including'a-notchinthe -top ,of said finger piece adapted to receive said finger for operating conn'ectionl and tohlimit lthe inward movement to prevent engagement between the' friction seats'. '56. A safety razor comprisinga cap with sharpening means thereon, a head plate, a handle comprising a'central'tube `with its upper. end fixed in a central' opening in said" head plat-ala guard beneath said-head plate'and havingits ends carried `around the ends*V of said head-plate in a tongue and' groove sliding'connection, a blade between said cap and said head plate, means connecting said bladey to said guard to move therewith, means for drawing said cap and head plate towa'fd each other to' flexv and hold the blade, a finger piece'rotatable 'on saidthandle and slidable thereon, and cooperating parts between said guard and finger piece whereby the finger piece may ibe retracted, turnedl toa certain position, and' advanced to establish a connection for 'move ingthe guard and' blad'etransversely of the head plate; or to another position wherewadvance of the finger piece will first. center the blade and then lock it in position.

7. In a safety razor of the class described, the combination of a head plate, a transversely movable guard at the lower side of said head plate, a blade above said head plate having transversepositioning and actuating notches in its ends and arms projecting upwardly from the ends of said guard and fitting between the ends of said notches, thearms being tapered to assure contact with both ends of each notch.

8. In a safety razor of the class described, the combination of a head plate, a transversely movable guard at the llower side of said head plate, a blade above said head plate having transversepositioning and actuating notches in its ends, arms projecting upwardly from the ends of said guard and fitting between the ends of said notches, the arms being tapered to assure contact with both ends of each notch, a cap with sharpening material thereon cversaid blade with its ends engaging the inner faces of said arms,

and means for drawing said cap and head plateV toward each other to flex the blade and hold the parts together.

9. In a safety razor of the class described, the

combination of a head plate, a transversely movable guard at the lower side of said head plate, a cap withsharpening material thereon, a blade between said head plate and said cap having transverse-positioning and actuating notches in its ends, and upwardly projecting tapered arms at the ends of said guard engaging the ends of said head plate in a tongue and groove connection and fitting at all times in said notches in the blade due to thetaper of said arms, and means to draw the cap and head plate toward each other and flex and hold the blade.

10. A blade for a self-sharpening razor, having elongated centering notches at its ends for positioning the blade both longitudinally' and transversely on blade-actuating means, and transverse slots with stop edges at opposite ends of'the slots for engagement with razor parts to limit the movement of the blade and assure proper alignment thereof.

l1. In a self-sharpening razor, a cap having sharpening means at its longitudinal edges, a head plate, a guard movable transversely of said cap and head plate, a blade between said cap and the head plate and guard, means including a razor handle for flexing said blade between the capY on one hand and the guard and head plate on the other, and means connecting'said blade to said guard for movement therewith transverse to the cap to cooperate with said sharpening means. v

12. In a self-sharpening safety razor, a cap having sharpening means at its longitudinal edges, a head plate, a guard movable transversely of said cap and head plate, a blade between said cap and head plate and guard, means including a razor handle for flexing said blade between the cap on one hand and the guard and head plate on the other, means connecting said blade to said guard for movement therewith transverse to the cap to cooperate with said sharpening means, and means including a finger piece on said handle for centering said guard and blade or for actuating them transversely of the cap and head.

13. In a razor of the class described, a cap having sharpening material at the longitudinal edges of its inner face and having studs projecting therefromy a head having openings in which said studs t and prevent relative transverse movement of said cap and head, a blade between said cap and head and having transverse slots receiving saidxstuds and also end openings, a guard at the inner face of and slidably mounted for movement transverse to said head, said guard having at its ends upwardly extending arms tit-',- ting in said end openings of the blade whereby transverse movement of -the guard will effect corresponding movement of the blade, and means for pressing said cap toward said head to -ilex the blade, said arms being tapered so, as to ilt the end openings when the blade is` flat or Awhen it is iiexed and the distance between the ends of said openings is shortened. A I 14. In a safety razor, the combination of-a head plate, a cap provided with sharpening means, lmeans extending between said head plate and cap to prevent relative transverse movement, a blade between said cap and head plate open centrally to receive the means between said head plate andvcap and permit transverse movement ofthe blade for sharpening on said sharpening means, and means for flexing said yblade and -holding it in centered position, said blade having end portions projecting beyond the-ends of, the head plate and the capand adapted vto be grasped by the hand for hand manipulation.

l5. A blade for a self-sharpening razor having centering openings at opposite sides of the middle of the bladefor positioning the blade both longitudinally and. transversely onblade actuating means and an open interiorv having stop edges at opposite sides for engagement with razor parts to limit the movement of the blade and assure proper alignment thereof. :5. JAMES B. BROCKHURST Q 

